Anthropic has upgraded Claude's computer use feature to run in the background on macOS for Pro and Max customers. The update applies to both Claude Code and Claude Cowork, allowing the AI to perform desktop actions like clicking, typing, and opening apps while users focus on other tasks. This improvement enhances multitasking by eliminating the need to surrender cursor control.

Anthropic shared the news today, noting that background computer use was previously unavailable for Claude on desktop. The feature follows similar functionality introduced earlier this year by OpenAI’s Codex-turned-ChatGPT on Mac. Users can now delegate routine desktop operations to Claude without interrupting their workflow.

The upgrade is positioned as a significant step toward seamless AI-assisted productivity on Mac systems.